SENTIMENTAL

CONTRIBUTIONS are now accepted for The New Anthology of Poetry in the Bikol Languages. Contributions shall be unpublished poems exploring the theme "Bikolnón na agimadmád (Bikol consciousness)"—memories, experiences, realities, images, and other aspects of being a Bikolano.

Contributions shall be in any of the Bikol languages, with corresponding translations in English. Editors however, shall have the discretion to edit translations. Each contributor may submit one to three entries; and a short bionote.

Greetings from the CANCER WARRIORS! We hope this email finds you in the best of health and good spirits.

Since the year 2000, our group - the Cancer Warriors Foundation, supports no less than one hundred indigent kids who are stricken with cancer. We assist them by providing the necessary medicines for their treatments especially for their chemo requirements.

The significant increase in the number of patients knocking on our doors and the increasing cost of medicines, is now forcing us to think of major ways to raise funds to be able to sustain all our programs. To date, almost Php 200,000 (two hundred thousand pesos) worth of medicines alone are bought and distributed every month. At this rate, our funds will be depleted even before the first quarter ends, not until we do something about it now.

Recently, we had the idea of having a concert that will coincide with the celebration of the WORLD CANCER DAY celebrated every February 4th and the INTERNATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER CONSCIOUSNESS DAY, celebrated every February 15th. This is to commemorate the patients, our loved ones, the warriors that we lost and to celebrate the lives that were spared by this disease.

In the past, we were able to successfully organize two concerts or "CANCERTS" which raised our funds and sustained our organization' s projects. This year, in coordination with the Cerrudo group, we will have our 3rd CANCERT (a post-Valentine concert for kids with cancer) aptly entitled "THE LOVE CANCERT" this coming February 16, at the Philam Life Theater at 8:00 pm. This will mainly feature Mr. Bimbo Cerrudo and The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and other performing artists. Bimbo Cerrudo will render classical songs from his "Classico….Classic Ko" series.

In line with this, we would like to invite you to watch and ask your generous hearts to support this project for the sake of the kids.

THE GAP BETWEEN THE VISUAL AND THE LITERARY ARTS IS A GAPING WOUND, AND AS SUCH NEEDS TO BE HEALED.

As a step toward complete recuperation and Wagner's dream of the Gesamtkunstwerk or total art, young visual and literary artists on the uprise from the University of Santo Tomas come together in the landmark collaborative show

L A N G I B

as an attempt to form an artistic scab to patch up the damage. Some of the artists paired to collaborate on verbo-visual works are

Bikolano writers and cultural enthusiasts are organizing a fundraising campaign for the victims of Typhoon Reming which pounded the Bikol Region last November 30, 2006.

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For donations of cash, used clothes, goods and any other forms of aid, please drop them at the Likhaan: The UP Institute of Creative Writing, 2/F Bulwagang Rizal, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

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These donations will then be forwarded to Ateneo de Naga's Relief Operations for Typhoon Reming's victims.

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For inquiries, pickups, pledges, and other information, please contact Vic Nierva through Likhaan's telephone number: 9221830, or you may send text massages at 09185022889.

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Your donations, big or small, will surely be of great help. Thank you.

9. You will weigh less — one pint less when you leave than when you came in.

8. It's easy and convenient — it only takes about an hour and you can make the donation at a donor center, or at one of the many Red Cross mobile blood drives.

7. It's something you can spare — most people have blood to spare... yet, there is still not enough to go around.

6. Nobody can ask you to do any heavy lifting as long as you have the bandage on. You can wear it for as long as you like. It's your badge of honor.

5. You will walk a little taller afterwards — you will feel good about yourself.

4. You will be helping to ensure that blood is there when you or someone close to you may need it. Most people don't think they'll ever need blood, but many do.

3. It's something you can do on equal footing with the rich and famous — blood is something money can't buy. Only something one person can give to another.

2. You will be someone's hero — you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother, or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may help save up to three lives with just one donation.

1. It's the right thing to do.

Top 10 Reasons Why People Don't Give Blood

1. I don't like needles / I am scared of needles / I am afraid to give bloodNearly everyone feels that way at first. However, most donors will tell you that you feel only a slight initial pinch, and 7-10 minutes later, you are finished and headed for the canteen (hehe). If you take the time (and courage) to make one donation, you'll wonder why you ever hesitated.

2. I am too busyThe entire process takes about an hour, and the actual blood donation time is only 7-10 minutes. If you stop to think that an hour of your time could mean a lifetime for a premature baby, someone with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, or someone who's had an accident, you might decide that you can make the time to give the gift of life.

3. No-one ever asked me… I didn't realize my blood was neededConsider yourself asked! There is simply no other way to supply the blood needs of hospital patients but for the generous donations of people like you.

4. I already gave this yearYou can give every 60 days. Many donors give 5 times a year!

5. I am afraid I'll get AIDSIt is not possible to get AIDS by donating blood. A new sterile needle is used for each donor and discarded afterwards.

6. My blood isn't the right typeEvery type of blood is needed daily to meet patient needs. If you have a common blood type, there are many patients who need it, so it is in high demand. If you have a less common blood type, there are fewer donors available to give it, so it is in short supply.

7. I don't have any blood to spareThe average adult body has 10-12 pints of blood. Doctors say that healthy adults may give regularly because the body quickly replaces the blood you donate.

8. I don't want to feel weak afterwardDonating blood should not affect adversely a healthy adult because your body has plenty of blood. You will donate less than one pint, and your body, which constantly makes new blood, will replace the donated volume within 24 hours. Most people continue their usual activities after donating.

9. They won't want my blood (I am too old / I've had an illness)If you have doubts, check with your physician. The qualified staff on duty at a blood drive or donor center will also review your medical history with you. There is no upper age limit to donate blood, and a great many medical conditions do not prevent you from donating blood, or may have done so only temporarily in the past.

10. I have a rare blood type, so I'll wait until there is a special needBlood that is rare or special is almost always in short supply. There is a constant need for these blood types in order to avoid having to recruit specific blood types in a crisis.

TWO fiction books and three poetry collections were named finalists of the annual Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award (MGBFBA), the Likhaan: UP Institute of Creative Writing (UP-ICW) and the Madrigal-Gonzalez family announced on Thursday, October 19.

The MGBFBA winner will be announced on December 8, 2006, after a Book Forum with the finalists at 2pm of the said date. The book forum as well as the awarding ceremony will be held at the Pulungang Recto, Bulwagang Rizal, UP-Diliman, Quezon City.

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The winner will receive a cash prize of P50,000.

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The MGBFBA, established in February 2001 and administered since then by the UP-ICW, is the only award-winning body in the Philippines recognizing first books by new authors published within the last two years. It is granted by the Madrigal and Gonzalez families, through Atty. Gizela Gonzalez Montinola, writer and granddaughter of Bienvenido Gonzalez, former UP President, and daughter of Gonzalo Gonzalez, former member of the UP Board of Regents.

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According to UP-ICW director Vim Nadera, the MGBFBA encourages beginning writers to persevere in writing and publishing, and it also encourages publishers to take risk with new authors.

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The award covers all genres of creative writing and nominations may come from publishing houses, university presses, creative writing centers, writers’ organizations, and other literary enthusiasts. It is given on alternate years to writers in English and writers in Filipino.

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Previous winners of the MGBFBA were “Life After X” a story collection in English by Angelo R. Lacuesta (2001), “Paghuhunos” novel in Filipino by Ellen L. Sicat (2002), “Smaller and Smaller Circles” a novel in English by Felisa H. Batacan (2003), “Makinilyang Altar” a novel in Filipino by Luna Sicat-Cleto (2004), and “The Sky Over Dimas” a novel in English by Vicente Groyon (2005).

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This year, the members of the board of judges were Malou Jacob, Luna Sicat-Cleto and Rene O. Villanueva.